Restaurant news: Eddie Merlot’s offers weekday lunch through Dec. 21

During this busy time of year, Eddie Merlot's is open for lunch weekdays.

Through Dec. 21, the restaurant is open 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday. Appetizers range from $5 for a cup of soup to $17 for barbecued shrimp. Several salads are on the lunch menu, including the fried egg salad which sounded intriguing: spinach, strawberries, goat cheese, candied bacon and red onion, with hot bacon dressing, are topped with two over-easy fried eggs for $14.

Joseph Decuis events

Joseph Decuis in Roanoke has a couple of events planned that would make a nice holiday celebration. The vineyard lunch at noon Saturday is $45 with wine and $30 without, plus tax and gratuity. The wines will be on sale at the Emporium. Reservations are required.

On Dec. 19, the restaurant will host a four-course holiday dinner at 7 p.m., with a reception starting at 6 p.m. Cost is $100 with wines or $75 per person without matched wines, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required.

Joseph Decuis is at 191 N. Main St., Roanoke. Phone: 672-1715.

Whew

Good news for Toscani Pizzaria, and for those who dine downtown. The restaurant is staying put at 120 W. Wayne St. As many regulars know, the owners weren't sure they were going to be able to re-sign the lease and were considering moving out of downtown.

However, I got an email from Julie Harris over the weekend saying they finally came to an agreement and re-signed the lease. “We want to thank our many loyal customers, friends and family who helped us through this year,” Harris said in the email. “We look forward to serving you for many years to come. Please follow us on Facebook or Twitter for our daily updates/specials.”

Dim Sum

Have you had dim sum at Wu's Fine Chinese Cuisine, 4411 Coldwater Road? Owner Michelle Wu says Wu's is the only place in Fort Wayne where you can get authentic dim sum, which is a style of Chinese food prepared as small bite-sized pieces. Wu's serves dim sum 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Typically a group of people come in, order several dim sum dishes, and share. Some dim sum is savory; some is sweet. Examples are steamed shrimp dumplings, stuffed sticky rice in lotus leaves, red bean rice balls with sesame seed, beef balls, Chinese green onion pancakes and twisted cruller doughnuts.

SpoonZ deal

Self-serve frozen yogurt shop SpoonZ Fro Yo, 1034 Thomas Road, in Orchard Crossing next to Target southwest, is offering a holiday special. For every $25 you spend on gift cards you will receive $5 in free frozen yogurt or an “I luv SpoonZ” shirt.

SpoonZ also is taking orders for holiday frozen yogurt pies. You pick the crust, frozen yogurt and toppings. Pies are $12 and serve eight people. Call 432-SPNZ (432-7769) to place your order.

Details needed

If your restaurant will be open Christmas Day, or if you are selling holiday-related foods, please contact us via any of the methods listed below.

We will get your info into this column Dec. 18.

Something happening at your eatery? Call Cindy Larson at 461-8284, fax 461-8817, e-mail clarson@news-sentinel.com or write Restaurant Notes, C/O The News-Sentinel, PO Box 102, Fort Wayne, IN 46801. This column is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinion of The News-Sentinel. To read other columns, go to www.news-sentinel.com/section/LARSON.